1. Fruits and vegetables rich in water
When drinking becomes difficult, fluid intake can be partly managed through food. These are often easier to accept and feel less “scary” than liquids. Here are some high-water foods that you can offer to your loved one with dementia grated, blended, or pureed.
Examples:
- Cucumber
- Watermelon
- Orange
- Tomato
- Apple
- Peach
2. Soups
Soups are especially helpful because they are warm, soothing, and easier to swallow. They provide nourishment and hydration at the same time.
Recommended soups:
- Broth
- Vegetable soup
- Cream soups (e.g., pumpkin, potato, broccoli)
3. Favorite flavors
Someone with dementia will often drink more if the flavors are familiar, especially if they are sweet. For example:
- Add light flavoring to water (lemon, orange).
- Offer fruit juice (diluted).
- Use a tea they used to enjoy.
- Make smoothies using their favorite ingredients.
- Jellies and gelatin: (The book has separate chapters on thickening liquids and its benefits, along with several recipes for making jellies.)
Creamy, thicker drinks can be much safer for someone with dementia than thin liquids.
Helping someone with dementia drink in special situations
Ensuring enough fluid intake for someone living with dementia is always a challenge, but certain situations make it even harder. Advanced stages, being bedridden, or a shifted day-night rhythm all affect how much they are able to drink.
In the advanced stages of dementia, they usually drink significantly less. This isn’t just because they feel less thirsty, but because the process of drinking becomes harder for them to understand and carry out. Often, they no longer know how to drink or are afraid of choking. In these cases, it’s vital not to force large amounts; instead, offer fluids in very small portions.
In many cases, it helps if you don’t try to have them drink from a cup. Using a straw is often safer. If that doesn’t work, you can give fluids—like soup or thickened drinks—slowly with a spoon. These are easier to swallow due to their texture, reducing the risk of choking. Always watch their reactions; if they cough, struggle to swallow, or refuse the liquid, take a break. In severe cases, be sure to consult a doctor, as special solutions may be needed.
Helping bedridden people drink also requires extra care. Drinking while lying flat can be dangerous, so you should always try to get your loved one into at least a semi-sitting position. The easiest way to do this is by raising the head of the bed. In this position, they can swallow more safely. Spoon-fed soups work particularly well here, as they allow for slow, controlled feeding. Thick, creamy foods and drinks (e.g., jellies, puddings) are also beneficial.
Nighttime fluid intake deserves special attention. For many people with dementia, the day-night rhythm is flipped, and they may experience the night as “daytime.” During these hours, they might be more active, alert, and even more cooperative than during the day. This can be an opportunity for the caregiver.
If your loved one wakes up at night, it’s worth offering them something to drink. Don’t force it, and there’s no need to leave a drink out at all times, especially if they are prone to knocking it over. You might find they are more willing to drink now than during the day.
In these situations, the most important thing is flexibility. There is no single method that works for everyone.
The Hidden Danger in Dementia Care: Why Your Loved One Might Stop Drinking –
Helpful tools for drinking
In many cases, choosing the right tool makes drinking much easier, reduces the risk of choking, and makes the process safer and calmer for both the person with dementia and the caregiver.
One of the simplest yet most useful tools is the sippy cup. This is especially helpful for those who can no longer tilt a cup properly or can’t control the pace of their drinking. The spout allows a smaller amount of liquid into the mouth at once. For many, it provides a sense of security because the liquid doesn’t “flood” in.
A straw is similarly practical. However, it’s important to see if your loved one can still use it safely, as the coordination needed for sucking can become difficult in advanced dementia.
In more severe conditions, the simplest method is often the most effective: using a spoon. This works particularly well with soups or thickened drinks. A spoon allows you to give very small amounts at a time. This method requires patience, but it is often the gentlest solution.
There are also special tilted cups designed to help drinking without the need to tilt the head back. This is crucial because tilting the head back can increase the risk of choking. These cups are ergonomic and often have two handles for an easier grip.
Grip aids, such as thickened or non-slip handles, can also help those with shaky hands. A cup that can be held steadily increases the feeling of independence, which is also important for their well-being.
Dementia and Dehydration: How to Help Your Loved One Drink More Water –
How to handle refusal
One of the hardest situations in dementia care is when your loved one refuses to drink. This can cause stress and a sense of failure for many caregivers. However, it’s important to understand that this behavior isn’t intentional—it is part of the illness.
When someone with dementia refuses fluids, try not to take it personally. It’s not about you, it’s not a reflection of your care, and it’s not because you are “doing something wrong.” Because of the dementia, they perceive the world differently, and sometimes even drinking can become frightening to them.
Fear is often behind the refusal. They may fear choking, coughing, or simply feel they have lost control of the situation. They might not recognize what is in the cup or understand what is expected of them. In these moments, a calm and accepting attitude is most important.
It’s not worth forcing it. Pressure only increases resistance and anxiety. It’s much more effective to try again later in a different way or at a different time. It often helps if the fluid isn’t presented as a “drink,” but as soup or fruit instead.
It’s also vital for you, the caregiver, to value small successes. A sip or two, a few spoonfuls of soup—these are real achievements. Remind yourself: “I handled this,” or “They managed to drink a little more today.” Caregiving is emotionally draining, and these small acknowledgments help maintain your own balance.
Setting realistic expectations is just as essential. You cannot set the same goals for someone with dementia as you would for a healthy adult. A daily intake of 2 liters of fluid is often not realistic. Nor is it realistic to expect them to always drink neatly without spilling, or to accept a drink every single time.
It is the nature of dementia that behavior changes. One day they are more cooperative, the next more dismissive. They might drink in the morning but not in the afternoon, or vice versa.
The goal isn’t perfection; it’s doing the best you can given the circumstances. If they spill, if they only drink a little, or if they refuse from time to time, that is normal in dementia. What they were able to do today is enough. This mindset is the foundation of sustainable, compassionate care in the long run.
Small daily victories lead to long-term peace. This post is part of our Daily Care & Safety-Practical Guides for Dementia Caregivers – Dementia in practiceresource center, where we share creative techniques for hygiene, medication, and creating a secure home environment. Discover more practical guides to make your daily routine smoother.
Important Disclaimer
The information and advice presented on this website and in this article are for informational purposes only. They do not constitute a medical diagnosis or individual therapeutic recommendations. The operator/author of the website assumes no liability for any direct or indirect damages, health issues, or misunderstandings resulting from the use of this information. Everyone applies the described methods at their own risk. Please consult your physician before making any lifestyle changes or applying any complementary therapies.
About the Author
Suzanne Sandwiese – Dementia Caregiver, Mental Health Assistant
I have more than 12 years of practical experience in caring for elderly people and patients living with dementia. My goal is to translate knowledge about dementia into understandable, practical advice that can be applied in daily life, thereby helping families live together with the disease. As the author of several professional books and the founder of a popular Facebook page, my mission is to provide clear and, above all, usable guidance to all those who care for loved ones living with dementia.